DOHA: The 14th round of the Doha Bank Stars League saw standout individual performances and decisive coaching influence as teams pushed for momentum in the title race and the battle for the top four.
Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino guided Al Sadd to a 3-1 victory over Al Gharafa in the round’s marquee fixture, extending the champions’ strong run of form.
Firmino opened the scoring and played a key role in Al Sadd’s commanding display, drawing on his experience with clubs including Liverpool and Saudi side Al Ahli.
On the touchline, Italian coach Roberto Mancini earned plaudits after steering Al Sadd to a sixth consecutive league win, underlining his impact since replacing Spaniard Felix Sanchez.
The victory allowed Al Sadd to cut the gap on leaders Al Gharafa to two points, adding further intrigue to the title race as the season enters a crucial phase.
